Question

Advantages and disadvantages of silence in communication

Answer 1

‘Silence is golden’ is an old adage. However, being too silent is not considered a good quality of effective communication.

In a discussion, silence helps the listener to understand clearly, what is being spoken. It helps both the speaker as well as the listener, to focus and deliver key points in speech or arrive at key decisions, quickly. Frequent interruptions disrupt effective communication.

For communication to be effective, it needs to be two-way. Hence, prolonged silence during communication, will not yield the desired result and it may also be seen as a sign of weakness, on part of the party remaining silent.